Announcing TravelCon: The World’s Premier Travel Event

At the end of 2015, I started a travel media school called Superstar Blogging. Since then, the community has grown to over 1,700 students learning blogging, vlogging, writing, and photography from some of the best minds in — and out of — the travel industry. I created the program so that people could learn the real, practical business skills needed to create a sustainable online business. Something that allows you to be your own boss, work from anywhere, and help people with over the long term.

For a long time, I’ve dreamed of organizing a conference in conjunction with the program. Something that would take everything we have online and bring it to life. I want to bring our students, other travel bloggers, and industry experts together to learn, network, connect, and, overall, have a ton of fun! I love the web, but in-person events are 10x better for learning and networking. This is where you can make the most lasting connections and relationships.

When I went to my first conference, I had no clue what to expect. I had this blog I’d been working on for a year and I wasn’t even sure if anyone cared what I was writing. There, at my first conference, I got to meet the fledgling travel community members in real life (back in 2008, it was a small community). Over a weekend, we formed business relationships and friendships. These connections have helped me countless times over the years as I turned my hobby blog into a full-time business. Their insight and support proved to be necessary in an industry that most people outside find difficult to understand. To this day, I count some of the people I met there as some of my closest friends.

I go to between 7-10 conferences each year to meet people, improve my website, and learn new skills. While I love the web, there is a real power in connecting in person. There’s something about meeting another person that bonds you so much more than if you’re constantly following their lives on social media or via their blog posts. I’ve met some of my best friends, co-workers, and mentors at conferences. I don’t think my blog would be nearly as big as it is today had I not stepped away from my computer and attended conferences and events in real life.

There are already some (very good) existing travel blogging conferences but I want to do something different. I want a conference that is less about “getting free trips to travel the world” and more about quality writing, branding, entrepreneurship, SEO, marketing, video production, and product creation — the things that help create a lasting business that delivers value to people and stands the test of time. I haven’t found one travel conference that really digs deep and makes all of this happen.

TravelCon is a three-day conference in Austin, Texas from September 20th to 22nd, 2018. It will feature keynote speakers, workshops, networking events, writing sessions, photography walks, and opportunities to pitch yourself to brands and tourism boards. This is a conference for people who want more than free stuff. This is the conference for people who are looking to get serious about turning their blog into a business.

With beginner and advanced sessions, we have tracks and tips for people at all levels of success. At this conference, you’ll learn what is currently working right now and what you can do over the long term to create the career you desire. I believe the best conferences have people of varying skill levels so everyone can interact and learn from each other. For too long, travel media conferences have been only geared toward newbies. This conference is really about leveling up, no matter where you are in your blogging journey.

After months of preparation, it’s time to open up the event! We’ve lined up some amazing speakers to lead our workshops, breakout sessions, keynotes, and panels! We’re bringing the best people in the industry to one place. I’ve taken so much care in selecting the speakers for this conference. There’s something special about each one. And they will be sharing their skills and what they’ve learned with you (Note: As we get closer to the event, this speaker list will grow and change):

Kristin Addis

Be My Travel Muse

Lola Akinmade

Geotraveler Media

Gloria Atanmo

The Blog Abroad

Alex Baackes

Alex in Wanderland

Glory Ali

Muslim Travel Rock

Derek Baron

Wandering Earl

Nathan Barry

ConvertKit

James Bradbury-Boyd

Singapore Airlines

Paul Brady

Condé Nast Traveler

Carol Cain

Girl Gone Travel

Liz Carlson

Young Adventuress

Edin Chavez

Shut Your Aperture

Chris Christensen

Amateur Traveler Podcast

Jason Cochran

Frommers

Dave & Deb

The Planet D

Brian Dean

Backlinko

Torre DeRoche

Writer, Love With a Chance of Drowning

Julia Dimon

Freelance Writer

Jodi Ettenberg

Legal Nomads

David Farley

Freelance Writer

Rachel Friedman

The Good Girls Guide to Getting Lost

Pat Flynn

Smart Passive Income

Brenda Gahan

Epic Signal

Lebawit Lily Girma

Sunshine and Stilettos

Stephanie Griest

Writer, Around the Bloc

Adam Groffman

Travels of Adam

Matt Gross

Digital Director, Runner’s World

Brice Gump

Major Impact Media

Pete & Dalene

Hecktic Travels

Dani Heinrich

Globetrotter Girls

Spud Hilton

The San Francisco Chronicle

Ryan Holiday

Writer, Ego is the Enemy

Rob Holmes

GLP Films

Clint Johnston

Triphackr

Steve Kamb

Nerd Fitness

Anna Karsten

Anna Everywhere

Matthew Karsten

Expert Vagabond

Peep Laja

ConversionXL

Cory Lee

Curb Free with Cory Lee

Kristin Luna

Camels & Chocolate

Jaume Marin

Costa Brava Tourism

Liam Martin

Staff.com

Neville Medhora

KopywritingKourse

Chris Mercer

MeasurementMarketing.io

Angkur Nagpal

Teachable

Elena Nikolova

Muslim Travel Girl

Laurence Norah

Finding the Universe

Dan & Audrey

Uncornered Market

Stephen Oddo

Take Walks

Cailin O’Neil

TravelYourself

Angie Orth

Angie Away

Sam Parr

The Hustle

Rolf Potts

Vagabonding

Erick Prince

Minority Nomad

Mari Ramirez

CPA

Oneika Raymond

Oneika the Traveller

Kiersten Rich

The Blonde Abroad

Chris Richardson

Nomadic Matt

Annette Richmond

From Annette

Kristen Sarah

Hopscotch The Globe

Patricia Serrano

Fresh Traveler

Travis Sherry

Extra Pack of Peanuts

Claudi Sult

GreenMe Berlin

Thomas Swick

Writer, Unquiet Days

Nadine Sykora

Hey Nadine

Brent Underwood

Brass Check

Ryan Whaley

Greendoor Media

Ernest White II

FlyBrother

Amanda Williams

A Dangerous Business

Siya Zarrabi

Good News from Around the World

Big conferences can often seem impersonal, which is why we’re focusing on small discussions, panels, workshops, and mentor sessions. We want you to walk away with actionable advice. We want you to think, “Wow! I learned so much!” We’re going to have writing, tech, video, and photography workshops were people will edit your work, solve your tech issues, and help you improve your photos and videos. We don’t want people to feel lost in the crowd.

TravelCon will be held at the JW Marriott in downtown Austin. The early, early bird ticket price is only $249 USD. Your ticket includes lunch each day of the event, coffee and tea, all keynote speeches, networking events, workshops, breakout panels, evening parties, and whatever other cool activities we add later!

Our space is limited to 500 people so if you’re interested, secure your spot today (don’t worry, if your plans change, you can get a refund!). The early bird ticket pricing will last until February 28th, 2018.

You should come to this if you are interested in learning how to succeed in the travel industry, improve your craft, learn new skills, meet amazing people, brands, and tourism boards, and just have some an awesome time!

I’m really excited about TravelCon! I really feel this is the space to bring the best blogging minds together and create a conference that can draw in very experienced bloggers and speakers with advanced-level content while helping beginners learn from and interact with them. Plus, it’s going to be a ton of fun to meet and talk to everyone in real life. (We’re focusing a lot more on real-life events this year!)

There’s plenty of room in the travel sphere for an event where media professionals and bloggers can go to learn and share the nuts and bolts of the business — the real, nitty-gritty stuff that separates people from the pack and allows them to build sustainable, profitable, and impactful online travel businesses.

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This lineup is absolutely killer!! I think it would be worth it for that reason alone. The chance to meet some of my favorite bloggers and authors, along with the chance to reconnect with so many blogging friends? I am definitely keeping this on my radar! I’ve never been to Texas either, so that part’s appealing too!

Already bought my ticket! Too many of my favorite bloggers on the speaker list to pass up 😉 Also, I’ve always wanted to visit Austin so this will be a great excuse. Crossing my fingers no work opportunities get in the way!

Booked! I am so excited for this line-up. This is my first blogging conference. I was able to snag an Airbnb two blocks away from the event for $74 a night. It is a single room in a solo travelers loft, but worth it and in the style of fun cheap travel. There are several Airbnb’s for a good price but they are going fast.